From Allafrica · · 2m
China's Media Shift in Southern Africa
Chinese media partnerships reshape Southern Africa's information landscape, with varying impacts across countries.
In brief
Chinese media partnerships reshape Southern Africa's information landscape, with varying impacts across countries. China's media investments in Southern Africa create different outcomes: Zimbabwe and South Africa face direct influence, while Portuguese-speaking nations see limited reach. Originally reported by…
China's Media Expansion in Southern Africa
China's growing media presence reshapes Southern Africa's information market through content-sharing agreements, infrastructure investments, and journalist training.
StarTimes Dominates Mozambique
StarTimes, a Chinese company, operates large satellite dish networks across Mozambique, selling decoders from orange shopfronts.
Xinhua's Influence in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe's state papers regularly publish Xinhua stories without naming the source, leading to direct pressure on journalists.
Zimbabwe's Media Pressure
In 2022, after The Standard reported Chinese mining violations, the Chinese embassy threatened 'strong counter measures' against the paper.
“strong counter measures”
Zimbabwe's Media Agreements
Zimbabwe signed content-sharing deals with CCTV and Xinhua in 2012 and 2023, with a 2024 agreement during President Mnangagwa's FOCAC visit to Beijing.
South Africa's Media Shift
Chinese investors took a 20% stake in South Africa's Independent News and Media in 2013, canceling an editorialist's column in 2018.
“persecution of uygurs in china”
African News Agency
The African News Agency (ANA) republished Xinhua content between 2019 and 2021, creating a form of 'information laundering' across the region.
“information laundering”
Portuguese-Speaking Countries
Chinese media have less reach in Lusophone Africa due to thinner Portuguese-language output and less local audience penetration.
One-Way Media Partnerships
Chinese media support flows to governments and state-aligned outlets, creating dependencies that outlast news cycles.
China's Structural Asymmetry
Beijing's media infrastructure creates structural asymmetry, with short-term gains for African partners but long-term dependencies.
“this win-win cooperation”
Withdrawal of US Support
The US Agency for International Development's dismantling in 2025 removed a major source of independent journalism support in the region.
China's Media Impact
China's media partnerships create different outcomes across Southern Africa, with varying degrees of influence and information control.
In short
China's media investments in Southern Africa create different outcomes: Zimbabwe and South Africa face direct influence, while Portuguese-speaking nations see limited reach.
